Projectile launchers to be mounted on the muzzle of a fire-arm

ABSTRACT

Projectile launchers of the type comprising a projectile encased within a housing having its centrally perforated base prolonged by a tubular socket to be fitted around the muzzle of a fire-arm according to which said socket is provided with a connection piece designed for induced deterioration, said piece being takenaway during the ejection of said projectile thereby facilitating the separation of the launcher from the fire-arm.

atet 1191 Gabri'ls July 30, 1974 [54] PROJECTILE LAUNCHERS TO BE 3,307,283 3/1967 Cox ..42/1 F MOUNTED ON THE MUZZLE OF A FIRE-ARM Inventor: Andre Joseph Christian Gabriels,

Reinpadstraat, 3600 Genk, Belgium Filed: Nov. 24, 1972 Appl. N0.: 309,369

US. Cl 42/1 F, 102/65.2 Int. Cl F4lc 27/06, F42b 11/42 Field of Search 42/1 F; 102/652 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1909 Hale 42/1 F Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Richards & Geier and V. Alexander Scher [57] ABSTRACT Projectile launchers of the type comprising a projectile encased within a housing having its centrally perforated base prolonged by a tubular socket to be fitted around the muzzle of a fire-arm according to which said socket is provided with a connection piece designed for induced deterioration, said piece being takenaway during the ejection of said projectile thereby facilitating the separation of the launcher from the fire-arm.

12 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PROJECTILE LAUNCHERS TO BE MOUNTED ON THE MUZZLE OF A FIRE-ARM This invention concerns launching devices of the type comprising a housing containing the projectile. usually in the form of a relatively elastic cylindrical mass, the centrally perforated base of said housing being prolonged by a tubular socket designed to accomodate the muzzle of a fire-arm. The projectile is ejected under the effect of the gas pressure developed by an appropriate blank cartridge fired in a conventional manner. Such a launching device is for a single use, that is to say that each projectile has its own launcher. Two apparently contradictory conditions must therefore be complied with: to ensure a firm and quick fixation of the device onto the guns muzzle and to allow a practically instantaneous liberation of the fire-arm, after each shot, so as to accelerate the firing tempo: a factor which is often of prime importance.

The purpose of the present invention is to introduce improvements in this type of projectile launching device which comply with these two essential requisites.

To this effect, these improvements consist in providing said tubular socket with a temporary connection piece designed for induced deterioration so that it is broken, rendered inactive when launching the projectile, thereby facilitating the separation of the launching device from the fire-arm. This inactivity can result from a rupture, fusion, separation, destruction or other deterioration of all or some component parts of the provisional fixation piece. According to a prefered embodiment, use is made ofa provisional connection piece designed to be broken during the ejection of the projectile from its housing. In order to facilitate the rupture, it is advisable to make the fixation piece from a slightly elastic andbreakable material; also one at least of the parts of the socket and of said connection which are intended to come into mutual contact, should preferably have a conical configuration.

The fixation piece, designed for induced rupture, can take various forms and exhibit various characteristics. It will usually take the form of a ring having a grossly L-shaped normal section and loosely connected to the socket.

A prefered but non restrictive embodiment is described in detail herebelow with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 represents in longitudinal section one embodiment of an improved launcher according to the inventlon;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the portion indicated by F after a 90 rotation;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the portion indicated by F 3 in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 represent cross-sections of the device, taken respectively alongst lines IV-IV, VV, VIVI and VIIVII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. I, the projectile being shown during the launching process;

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 2 but shows a modified embodiment; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the portion indicated by F10 in FIG. 9;

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the launcher is constituted by a cylindrical housing I. the base 2 of which, provided with a central vent-hole 3,

being prolonged by a tubular socket 4. The outer rim 5 of this socket is conical in shape and has a peripheral rib 6. The inner diameter D of said socket is slightly larger than the outer diameter D1 of the barrel 7 of the fire-arm.

In this case, the connection piece is fashioned in the shape of a ring 8 made for instance of a slightly elastic and breakable plastic material. The inner diameter D2 of this ring is equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter D1 of the barrel of the fire-arm. The ring is also provided with an inner peripheral rib 9 intended to cooperate with abovemcntioned outer peripheral rib 6 of the socket, to ensure the connection of said socket '4 and said ring 8. The latter is provided with an inner ridge l0 intended to violently collide against the coneshaped outer rim 5 of the socket 4 during the launching of the projectile.

The prepared rupture of the ring 8 is obtained by two diametrically opposite kerfs, l2 and 13, extending part way up the length of the ring.

In this example, the projectile is constituted by a cylindrical rubber mass inserted with relatively strong friction into housing 1 which it completely fills, said mass having a rim at each of its ends, respectively 14 and 15. A bearing plate or shield 16 or 16, is attached to the central area of the base of the projectile and completely covers the central vent-hole 3 of the launcher. The projecting head 17 of the projectile is hemispherical in shape. The purpose of the shield 16 or l6 is to offer an adequate resistance to the gasses, thereby preventing gas penetration and resulting deformations of the projectile, which could be detrimental to its ballistic performances. On the other hand, should bullets be used instead of blank cartridges, the shield would be designed so that the bullet could lodge itself therein whilst transmitting its full momentum to the projectile.

As shown in FIG. 1, the launcher with its projectile is fitted on the guns muzzle to which it is fixed by the constricting peripheral stress of the connection ring 8. This connection is sufficient to allow any normal movement of or with the thus equipped fire-arm, without impairing the stability of the launcher. When the fire-arm is fired in the present case with a blank cartridge the projectile is propelled forward by the gas pressure whereas the launcher is rearwardly sollicited by reaction. The ring 8 is ruptured, being strongly compressed between the foresight of the fire-arm and the coneshaped socket 4. The launcher is however maintained in its position by the gas pressure until the projectile has entirely left its housing. Then, as the diameter d of the central vent-hole 3 is smaller than the diameter d of the barrel, a still strong pressure subsides in between the annular extremity of the barrel and the adjacent part of the launcher so that the latter is automatically ejected. The fire-arm is then ready to be fired anew.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show alternative shapes for the tubular socket 4 and the connection ring 8, respectively. In this embodiment, the conical part is provided in the inner ridge 18 of the ring, the socket being provided with a peripheral outer rib 19.

It goes without saying that many other embodiments can be considered, without departing from the scope of the invention, provided a part or piece designed for induced deterioration is interposed between the launcher proper and its support to the effect of automatically 3 ejecting, so that the launcher is immediately separable from the fire-arm, after the latter is fired.

What I claim is:

l. Improvements to projectile launchers of the type comprising a projectile encased within a housing having a centrally perforated base prolonged by a tubular socket to be fitted around a muzzle of a fire-arm, according to which said socket is provided with a connection piece designed for induced deterioration, said piece being broken away during the ejection of said projectile thereby facilitating the spearation of the launcher from said muzzle.

2. Improvements according to claim 1, characterized ..in that said connection piece is designed for induced deterioration by rupture during the ejection of the projectile from its housing.

3. Improvements according to claim 1, wherein said connection piece is a ring having an approximately L- shaped cross section and weakened zones, said ring being freely rotatable around said socket.

4. Improvements according to claim 3, wherein said weakened zones are obtained by two diametrically opposed kerfs extending part-way up the length of said ring.

5. Improvements according to claim 1 wherein the inner diameter of said connection piece at its extremity farthest from said housing, is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of said socket.

6. Improvements according to claim 1 wherein the inner diameter of said connection piece at its extremity farthest from said housing, is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of said socket and slightly smaller than the outer diameter of said muzzle.

7. Improvements according to claim 1, wherein the morphological features of the above mentioned socket and connection piece are such as to induce the rupture of the piece following its collision with the socket during the launching of a projectile.

8. Improvements according to claim 1 wherein the inner diameter of said connection piece, at its extremity farthest from said housing is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of said socket and slightly smaller than the outer diameter of said muzzle and wherein the free end of said socket has a conically shaped external surface, intended to contact the adjacent part of said piece, so as to facilitate the rupture of the latter upon launching of the projectile.

9. Improvements according to claim I wherein the inner diameter of said connection piece, at its extremity farthest from said housing is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of said socket and slightly smaller than the outer diameter of said muzzle and wherein said connection piece has an inner conical surface intended to contact the marginal rim of said socket so as to facilitate the rupture of said piece upon launching of the projectile.

l0. Improvements according to claim 1, wherein said connection piece designed for induced rupture is made of a relatively elastic and breakable material.

11. Improvements according to claim 1, wherein the projectile is constituted by a substantially cylindrical mass of an elastic material, such as rubber, said mass being firmly encased in said housing and fitted with a protective shield covering at least the central region of its base.

12. Improvements according to claim 11 wherein said shield consists of a plate made of hard material.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent NO. Dated y Andre Joseph Christian Gabriele Inventor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

in the the fellowing should he should be added:

Assignee: v Fahrique Nationals Herstal S.A. e en abrege F flerstsl lez-Liege, Belglum Signed and sealed this 24th day of Juhe 1375.

(SEAL) AtteSt:

C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks RUTH C. MASON Arresting Officer F ORM PO-iOSO (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 U 5 GC-VEHNMEN', PRINTING OFFICE Patent No. 538262931 Dated July 197i Andre Jeseph Christian Gabriels Inventor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

11321 the Title Page, the following shsuld be should. be added:

-Lssigmee: Fahriqm Nationals Herstal S.A. A en abrege F N, Herstal-lez-Liege, Belgium Signed and sealed this 24th day of Juhe 1975.

(SEAL) Attest: I

C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks F ORM PO-105O (10-59) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 U S GGVEHNMENY PRINTING OFFICE g 930 

1. Improvements to projectile launchers of the type comprising a projectile encased within a housing having a centrally perforated base prolonged by a tubular socket to be fitted around a muzzle of a fire-arm, according to which said socket is provided with a connection piece designed for induced deterioration, saiD piece being broken away during the ejection of said projectile thereby facilitating the spearation of the launcher from said muzzle.
 2. Improvements according to claim 1, characterized in that said connection piece is designed for induced deterioration by rupture during the ejection of the projectile from its housing.
 3. Improvements according to claim 1, wherein said connection piece is a ring having an approximately L-shaped cross section and weakened zones, said ring being freely rotatable around said socket.
 4. Improvements according to claim 3, wherein said weakened zones are obtained by two diametrically opposed kerfs extending part-way up the length of said ring.
 5. Improvements according to claim 1 wherein the inner diameter of said connection piece at its extremity farthest from said housing, is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of said socket.
 6. Improvements according to claim 1 wherein the inner diameter of said connection piece at its extremity farthest from said housing, is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of said socket and slightly smaller than the outer diameter of said muzzle.
 7. Improvements according to claim 1, wherein the morphological features of the above mentioned socket and connection piece are such as to induce the rupture of the piece following its collision with the socket during the launching of a projectile.
 8. Improvements according to claim 1 wherein the inner diameter of said connection piece, at its extremity farthest from said housing is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of said socket and slightly smaller than the outer diameter of said muzzle and wherein the free end of said socket has a conically shaped external surface, intended to contact the adjacent part of said piece, so as to facilitate the rupture of the latter upon launching of the projectile.
 9. Improvements according to claim 1 wherein the inner diameter of said connection piece, at its extremity farthest from said housing is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of said socket and slightly smaller than the outer diameter of said muzzle and wherein said connection piece has an inner conical surface intended to contact the marginal rim of said socket so as to facilitate the rupture of said piece upon launching of the projectile.
 10. Improvements according to claim 1, wherein said connection piece designed for induced rupture is made of a relatively elastic and breakable material.
 11. Improvements according to claim 1, wherein the projectile is constituted by a substantially cylindrical mass of an elastic material, such as rubber, said mass being firmly encased in said housing and fitted with a protective shield covering at least the central region of its base.
 12. Improvements according to claim 11 wherein said shield consists of a plate made of hard material. 